Egypt Passport & Visa Photo

Egypt's Photo Standards — Simpler Than You Think

Egyptian passport photos follow the standard 35×45mm format with a white background. On paper, the rules are straightforward. In practice, it's the quality of the photo that causes most of the headaches at the Mogamma or passport offices. Egypt's Civil Status & Passports Organization runs a tight ship when it comes to print clarity — they want crisp, well-lit photos with accurate skin tones, and they'll send you back to the photo studio if the image looks even slightly washed out.

Women wearing hijab can keep it on for the photo, but the full oval of the face — from chin to forehead — must be completely visible. No part of the scarf should drape across the jawline or cast a shadow on the cheeks. Men should be clean-shaven or have their facial hair neatly groomed so the chin line is clear.

Where to Apply

The passport application landscape in Egypt has changed dramatically. The old Mogamma building in Tahrir Square used to be the only game in town, but now there are multiple modern processing centers:

• Passport, Immigration & Nationality Administration (PINA) — Abbassia, Cairo. The primary processing center for Greater Cairo.
• New Administrative Capital Office — In the new capital east of Cairo. Newest facility with shorter queues.
• Alexandria Passport Office — Smouha district, serving the entire Alexandria governorate.
• Giza Passport Office — Haram district, for residents of Giza governorate.
• Egyptian Embassy in Washington DC — 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
• Egyptian Consulate in New York — 1110 Second Avenue, Suite 201, New York, NY 10022

What Gets Your Photo Rejected

1. Overexposed or washed-out complexion — Flash photography that makes skin look unnaturally pale is a common issue. Egyptian officials expect natural, warm skin tones in the photo.
2. Hijab casting shadows on the face — The fabric edge must sit behind the ears and jawline. Any shadow across the cheeks or forehead means a redo.
3. Photo paper quality too low — Many small studios near passport offices print on thin, semi-glossy paper to cut costs. Insist on thick, high-quality glossy stock.
4. Background with visible wall texture — Some studios use a painted wall instead of a proper backdrop sheet. Even faint wall patterns show up in the scan.
5. Eyes not both fully open — Squinting, one eye slightly closed, or looking tired — all flagged. Both eyes need to be evenly open and looking at the camera.

What You'll Pay

An Egyptian passport costs between EGP 500 and EGP 800 depending on the number of pages and processing speed. The standard 52-page passport with regular processing (3-7 working days) is at the lower end. Urgent same-day service is available at the Abbassia office for a premium. For Egyptians abroad, consular fees range from $25-60 USD, with processing typically taking 2-4 weeks.

Official Resources

• Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Egypt Government Services Portal